Pine Meadow Elementary Teacher Of The Year Is David Vaughn
January 14, 2023
David Vaughn was named the Pine Meadow Elementary School Teacher of the Year. He is a kindergarten teacher.
NorthEscambia.com spotlighting Teachers of the Year from the North Escambia area. The county’s overall teacher of the year will be named in late January.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Patricia LaCoste Gibson
January 14, 2023
Mrs. Patricia LaCoste Gibson, age 82 passed away, Thursday, January 5, 2023, in Hammond, LA. She was a former resident of Century, FL; and has resided in Ponchatoula, LA; since 1997. She was caregiver in the health care field for many years. She was a member of Mike Vaugh Good News Fellowship Ministry in Tickfaw, LA.
She valued the time she has got to spend with her children, and grandchildren. She enjoyed reading the bible and attending church.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence Cameron (Perry Lee Merchant) LaCoste, husband, Herbert Gibson, Sr; three sons, Kenneth Scott, Danny Gibson, Michael Small, one grandson, Anthony Small, one great- grandson Caden Grosskurth. five brothers, Russell LaCoste, Howard LaCoste, Melvin LaCoste, Lewis LaCoste, Ronnie LaCoste, and one sister, Elsie Alred.
She is survived by her one son, Herbert Gibson, Jr; of Bedico, LA; one daughter, Patsy Gibson, of Tickfaw, LA; four grandchildren, Herbert Gibson III, Derek Grosskurth, Tamula Grosskurth, Kuffner, Austin Small, six great grandchildren, Cayne Dwyer, Nevaeh Grosskurth, Aiden Viola, Tonya Small, Avaya Small, Carson Small, numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Funeral service will be held Saturday, January 14, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC. with Bro. Derek Grosskurth officiating.
Burial will follow at Antioch Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Saturday, January 14, 2022 from 12:00 PM until service time at 2:00 PM at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home
Feeling Lucky On This Friday The 13th? The Mega Millions Jackpot is $1.35 Billion Tonight
January 13, 2023
Are you feeling lucky on this Friday the 13th? Tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot is $1.35 billion for tonight’s drawing.
If won, it would be the second largest jackpot in the game’s history after rolling over 24 times since October.
Jackpot prize winners have the option to receive their winnings in 30 annual installments or as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $724.6 million.
Mega Millions jackpots start at $20 million and roll until the jackpot is won. Players win by matching the five white ball numbers (1-70) and the Mega Ball number (1-25). The overall odds of winning a prize in the game are approximately 1-in-24.
In addition to the jackpot prize, players can win lower-tier prizes ranging from $2 to $5 million by matching any of the non-jackpot-winning combinations. In this series of rollovers, there have been more than 2.9 million Florida MEGA MILLIONS winners, winning more than $31.4 million in prizes.
Newly Rebuilt Ascend Community Park To Reopen Next Week
January 13, 2023
Ascend Community Park is set to reopen with a ribbon cutting next week.
The park has been closed since it was damaged by Hurricane Sally in 2020.
It has now been renovated and equipped with a new playground.
The playground equipment was purchased and professionally installed with funds from the Ascend Cares Foundation and the Ascend Pensacola site. Ascend work teams and Ascend Cares volunteers also helped with cleaning, painting and repairs to the pavilion and restroom facilities at the park in recent months.
“This project has been a true team effort by Ascend employees, Ascend Cares volunteers, and our partners from Turner Industries,” said Asa Cuellar, a senior production manager at Ascend who managed the park renovation project. “The park has been in our community since 2000 and we are all thrilled to see it reopen so children and families can enjoy visiting again.”
The public is invited to attend the ribbon cutting at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, January 18 at 3098 Old Chemstrand Road. Following the ceremony, the park will be open to the public daily from dawn to dusk.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Winter Is Back! Cool And Breezy Today, Cold And Windy Tonight
January 13, 2023
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Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 51. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 29. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 60. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
M.L.King Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 72.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 73.
Bellview Library Closed All Next Week For Maintenance
January 13, 2023
The Bellview Library, which just opened last September, will be closed next week “for maintenance”.
The library will be closed Tuesday, January 17 through Saturday, January 21 for the work. All library locations are closed Monday, January 16 for the Martin Luther Kings, Jr. Day holiday.
All events and programs for the week have been canceled, except an Arbor Day tree giveaway planned to 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 21 will take place.
During the closure, library return materials may be dropped off in the drop box outside the Bellview Library or returned to any other West Florida Public Libraries location. The Bellview Library will reopen on Monday, January 23.
In making the announcement late Thursday afternoon, county officials did not say what maintenance issue led to the closure.
Escambia County Seeks Volunteer for Planning Board Appointment
January 13, 2023
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an at-large appointment to the Escambia County Planning Board.
At-large members serve a two-year term of office and attend one meeting per month (generally the first Tuesday of the month). Meetings are generally from 8:30 a.m. to no later than noon; however, occasionally may go beyond noon depending upon the agenda. No travel is involved unless the Planning Board members decide to view a particular property for informational purposes. Financial disclosure is required.
Escambia County residents interested in being considered for a possible appointment to the Escambia County Planning Board to begin serving in January are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by close of business on Tuesday, January 31. Letters and resumes should be submitted to Rachel Whitmire; 3363 West Park Place; Pensacola, FL 32505; or emailed to rwhitmire@myescambia.com.
The term for this vacancy is February 16, 2023 until February 16, 2025.
All submittals are subject to public records requests.
Michelle Thomas Is Ernest Ward Middle School’s Teacher Of The Year
January 13, 2023
Michelle Thomas was named the Ernest Ward Middle School Teacher of the Year.
NorthEscambia.com spotlighting Teachers of the Year from the North Escambia area. The county’s overall teacher of the year will be named in late January.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ball Registrations Open For NWE, Century And Molino
January 13, 2023
Ball registrations are underway for Northwest Escambia, Century and Molino.
Century Baseball Association
Registration for the Century Baseball Association is underway online for wee ball, t-ball, softball and baseball. An in-person registration will be held this Saturday, January 14. More info: Facebook.
Northwest Escambia Bradberry Park
Registration ends January 20 for Northwest Escambia t-ball, softball and baseball. Some age groups have a waitlist, but the league will attempt to form a new team with the required players and coaches.
Register online here. More info: Facebook.
Molino Recreation
Registration is now open for the Molino Recreation Association at Don Sutton Park for the 2023 baseball and t-ball seasons.
To register, click or tap here.
Registration is open for softball (except 12U), baseball and t-ball on a first come, first available basis. Softball registration closed January 10.
The baseball draft is January 24-27 and practice begins January 30. Opening day is March 4 and games end on May 5. More info: Facebook.
Escambia Again Selects EREC For North Escambia Fiber Internet
January 12, 2023
The Escambia County Commission has once again selected Escambia River Electric Cooperative (EREC) with their partner firm Conexon Connect to provide high speed fiber internet to North Escambia.
The county originally accepted proposals to provide fiber to homes north of 10 Mile Road and approved entering into a memorandum of understanding with Escambia River Electric Cooperative in late November. Cox Communications retained a law firm and filed a formal protest against the award.
Escambia County regrouped, deciding to resolicit bids, narrowing the area serviced to north of Muscogee Road. Cox declined to bid in the second round, saying the new area was too far away from their existing fiber network in Cantonment.
Two companies submitted proposals and were heard by the commission Thursday morning: IBT PCS and Conexon Connect in partnership with EREC.
The commission voted 4-1, with commissioner Mike Kohler voting no, to negotiate a memorandum of understanding with EREC.
Commissioner Steven Barry said EREC, a member-owned electric cooperative, had the clear competitive advantage because they already have infrastructure in place. For any other company, the construction cost would be significantly higher with a 5-10 year buildout, he said, to get fiber to all of the homes.
IBT proposed nearly 110 miles of underground fiber, but using wireless technology to reach about 2,000 homes. EREC proposed almost 600 miles of fiber, including 175 miles underground, with fiber serving every home and business, over 4,000 of them, in their territory, “for considerably less county contribution,” Barry said.
Escambia County has committed $10 million of American Rescue Plan federal dollars toward the project north of Muscogee Road with the company owning and operating the network. Another $12 million is committed to a second phase south of Muscogee Road. The funds are aimed at providing broadband internet to unserved, and underserved, residents.
In both phases, fiber connections to county facilities will be provided.
EREC plan to offer symmetrical speeds from 100 Mbps to 2 Gig at a price ranging from $49.95 to $99.95 per month.
NorthEscambia.com will continue to cover North Escambia area broadband issues.
Pictured: Escambia River Electric Cooperative CEO Ryan Campbell addresses the Escambia County Commission on Thursday. Image for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.